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Source: Alcoa
“Lightweight, high-performance metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today launched a family of innovative foundry alloys designed to meet the growing need for both part performance and lightweighting in the automotive industry and beyond.”
Alcoa Unveils Four New Specialty Alloys Read More »
Buehler (http://www.buehler.com), a leading manufacturer of equipment, consumables and accessories for metallography and hardness testing, has combined its business sectors Metallography, formerly based in Düsseldorf/Germany, and Hardness Testing, still widely known under its previous name, Wilson Hardness, and traditionally based in Esslingen am Neckar in Germany. After the formal consolidation of both core activities in 2009 under the name of Buehler ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, this site in Southern Germany now takes on the function of European Headquarters. In Düsseldorf, the company is currently establishing a new, central laboratory in close cooperation with partners in industry, universities and research institutes, for handling international research projects covering the full span from sample preparation in the laboratory right up to fully automatic in-process hardness testing.
The facilities at the new ‘Buehler Solutions Centre’ in Esslingen offer Buehler ITW Test & Measurement adequate space for development, training, production, sales and warehousing. They even allow for a future expansion of these activities, providing customers from the German-speaking region, France and the UK with direct access to a team of highly qualified professionals in all matters of the procurement, operation and servicing of equipment and systems, as well as a central warehouse for spare parts and consumables. In addition, Buehler is represented in 50 countries worldwide through distributors.
European Commercial Director Roland Prauss said: “The physical consolidation of our Metallography and Hardness Testing operations at a single site will produce synergistic effects, which will enable us to respond to the future demands of a Europe-wide market. We are proactively meeting the needs of our customers, who are increasingly active in multiple countries, and require the same level of service to be available from a single source throughout these countries, so that they, in turn, can optimize their own processes. Buehler can now create new opportunities by pooling our resources, upgrading existing products and developing new products ideally suited to the requirements of our international customers. This consistent focus on the ‘Voice of the Customer’ is an approach already successfully adopted by ITW Test & Measurement in the US and Chinese markets.”
As a concrete example, Prauss cited the growing trend towards ITW Test & Measurement products being used in demanding industrial environments and in multi-shift operation. “We are seeing an increasing trend for measurement and testing activities to move from the laboratory onto the production floor. This implies an increasing level of training on the part of operating staff and places higher demands on the equipment itself and its suitability for continuous round-the-clock operation. It necessitates an appropriate approach to the design of hardware and software, including ergonomics, and a consistent adaptation of our inventory with a view to satisfying rapidly changing demand and high volumes. At our new Esslingen headquarters, we are now eminently well set up to assist our customers on their chosen paths“.
Buehler Consolidates European Metallography and Hardness Testing Business Read More »
Source: Today’s Energy Solutions
“These 3D imaging devices and long-range scanners serve a wide range of industries, and help assure that they are performing the highest level of testing and accuracy possible. A few of the diverse industries currently using this technology and the goals sought are:
Manufacturing – for internal inspection of components and to ensure that a part meets specifications; this includes injection molded, cast, forged or fabricated parts made from metal, plastic, polymers, composites and even 3D printed products.”
Read more: CT Scanners for Industrial Jobs
CT Scanners for Industrial Jobs Read More »
Solar Atmospheres, Inc. has announced that it has become the first company to receive MedAccred critical process reaccreditation. Furthermore, Solar Atmospheres, Inc. successfully expanded its scope of accreditation to include Hardness Testing and Metallography & Microindentation Hardness. MedAccred is an industry-managed critical process supply chain oversight program which was developed by leading medical device companies to improve device quality and most importantly enhance patient safety.
The effort to establish MedAccred began in 2010 when the Performance Review Institute (PRI) was asked to consider the development of a Nadcap-style special process supplier accreditation program for the medical device industry. An industry roundtable was organized and convened in 2012 among interested medical device companies and PRI. Following this roundtable meeting, briefings were held with the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s (CDRH) Office of Compliance and the FDA’s Office of Global Operations within the Office of the Commissioner. The program purpose and scope was discussed, along with the results of proof of concept audits which were conducted to demonstrate the program’s viability. The FDA provided positive feedback and strong encouragement to pursue the development of the program.
By 2014, several critical process Task Groups were operating on a formal basis, program documents were drafted, circulated and approved by the executives of the participating companies and audit criteria had been published in several critical process areas. Solar Atmospheres, Inc. committed to hosting the first MedAccred audit.
In early 2015 the first MedAccred critical process accreditation was issued to Solar Atmospheres Inc. for Heat Treating.
Today’s functioning critical process Task Groups include Cable & Wire Harnesses, Heat Treating, Plastics Injection Molding, Printed Circuit Board Assemblies, Sterilization and Welding. The industry managed task groups develop audit criteria, conduct audits, and award MedAccred Critical Process Accreditations to leading suppliers at all tiers in the Medical Device Supply Chain. Many companies are seeking MedAccred Accreditation to demonstrate their commitment to quality and patient safety. Future MedAccred Task Groups under consideration for development include Material Testing Laboratories, Assemblies, PCBs, Batteries, Chemical Processing, NDT, Cleaning, Coating, Optics, Packaging, etc. Active OEM and Contract Manufacturer participants include: Johnson & Johnson, Philips, Stryker, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, NYPRO Jabil, Steris, etc. The list of participating suppliers is growing steadily.
Joe Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of PRI explained the significance of Solar Atmospheres’ accomplishment: “Gaining a critical process accreditation from MedAccred is recognition of a company’s commitment to quality and the high standards of critical process manufacturing which they maintain. The successful completion of a reaccreditation audit is a clear indication that a company is able to consistently uphold those extremely high standards over an extended period of time. I would like to congratulate the whole team at Solar Atmospheres on this important achievement.”
Solar Atmospheres Receives First Reaccreditation from MedAccred Read More »
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) has entered into an agreement with Airbus to supply 3D-printed titanium fuselage and engine pylon components for Airbus commercial aircraft. Alcoa expects to deliver the first additive manufactured parts to Airbus in mid-2016.
“We are proud to partner with Airbus to help pave the way to the future of aerospace development and manufacturing,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “The unique combination of our multi-material alloy development expertise, powder production capabilities, aerospace manufacturing strength and product qualification know-how position us to lead in this exciting, emerging space.”
Airbus chose to work with Alcoa because of its comprehensive capabilities, from materials science leadership to additive manufacturing and aerospace parts qualification. The agreement will draw on Alcoa’s decades of aerospace experience and new technologies gained through the recent acquisition of RTI and organic expansion in Whitehall, Michigan. Alcoa also recently invested in 3D-printing and metallic powder production capabilities at its technical center outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Last year, Alcoa acquired RTI International Metals (RTI)—now known as Alcoa Titanium & Engineered Products (ATEP)—which grew Alcoa’s additive manufacturing capabilities to include 3D-printed titanium and specialty metals parts produced at ATEP’s Austin, Texas facility. The Airbus agreement will draw on these capabilities as well as ATEP’s titanium ingot melting and billetizing, machining, finishing and inspection technologies.
Alcoa will employ advanced CT scan and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) capabilities at its advanced aerospace facility in Whitehall, Michigan. HIP is a technology that strengthens the metallic structures of traditional and additive manufactured parts made of titanium and nickel based superalloys. Through a $22 million investment in the technology in Whitehall, Michigan, Alcoa today owns and operates one of the largest aerospace HIP technology complexes in the world.
Additionally, Alcoa is bolstering its additive manufacturing capabilities through a $60 million expansion in advanced 3D-printing materials and processes, including metallic powders. The expansion is located at the Alcoa Technical Center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the world’s largest light metals research center.
Post updated Thursday 4/29/2021 at 3:37pm.
Alcoa to Supply 3D-Printed Metal Parts for Airbus Read More »
Source: Solar Atmosphere’s Vacuum Reference Series Number 2
A Temperature Uniformity Survey ( TUS ) for a vacuum furnace to satisfy AMS 2750D must be performed using established procedures and methods that fully meet the requirements of the specification and allows for consistent and more accurate results of actual furnace capabilities.
Read More: Optimizing Procedures for Temperature Uniformity Surveying of Vacuum Furnaces
Temperature Uniformity Surveying for Vacuum Furnaces Read More »
Source: Solar Manufacturing’s Vacuum Furnace Reference Series
This series includes eight releases with the following titles.
Release 1: Critical Melting Points and Reference Data for Vacuum Heat Treating
Release 2: Optimizing Procedures for Temperature Uniformity Surveying of Vacuum Furnaces
Release 3: Operating a Vacuum Furnace Under Humid Conditions
Release 4: Understanding PID Temperature Control as Applied to Vacuum Furnace Performance
Release 5: Understanding Power Losses in Vacuum Furnaces
Release 6: Important Considerations when Purchasing a Vacuum Furnace
Release 7: Important Considerations when Selecting a Vacuum Furnace Water Cooling System
Release 9: Understanding Vacuum and Vacuum Measurement
Read More: Solar Manufacturing’s Resources for Vacuum Heat Treating Releases 1 – 9
Solar Manufacturing’s Vacuum Furnace Reference Series Read More »
Following significant capex investment, Element Materials Technology has launched its newly expanded and upgraded Cincinnati, Ohio, facility, as one of the largest independent materials testing and product qualification testing (PQT) service facilities in the U.S. The former-Accutek location has expanded to 62,000ft2 and now provides specialist testing to both the aerospace and medical device sectors and houses three of Element’s Global Centers of Technical Excellence delivering critical testing services to these sectors.
Charles Noall, president and CEO of Element, comments: “Our investment at Element Cincinnati marks a significant step towards securing our position as the strategic partner of choice for our clients in the aerospace and medical device industries. We are committed to developing Centers of Technical Excellence across our global platform, allowing us to deliver market-leading technical expertise where needed by our partners, from aerospace primes to leading medical device manufacturers.”
Element Cincinnati is a world-leading ceramic matrix composite (CMC) Center of Technical Excellence, that is equipped with market-leading environmental controls, high temperature facilities (up to 2,400°F) and doubled capacity in CMC testing, to support its major clients in the development of the next generation of aero engines. The laboratory also houses the Element Group’s Center of Technical Excellence in low-cycle fatigue (LCF) testing, which tests aerospace forgings for airframers and their supply chain partners. Finally, the laboratory also contains the group’s medical device testing center of Technical Excellence that offers a comprehensive range of 21 test methods including accelerated aging testing capabilities and mechanical testing for physiological studies for new spine, knee and hip wear simulator evaluations.
Rick Sluiters, Element’s executive vice president, aerospace, comments: “Our investment at Element Cincinnati allows us to act as a strategic partner to primes and OEMs working at the forefront of CMCs for the aerospace sector. The CMC Center of Technical Excellence provides testing services to respond to the industry’s most demanding challenges through the laboratory’s market-leading environmental controls. The increase in quality of environmental controls also gives us a very tight tolerance, allowing for highly accurate measurement of straining of CMCs.
“The investment also enhances the location’s medical device capabilities, with the mechanical, biological and related testing services allowing us to act as a full-service testing provider for clients. Element Cincinnati is a leading center for Medical Device testing and its newly expanded scope of accreditation underlines our commitment to acting in strategic partnership with key clients.”
Element Cincinnati is Nadcap and ISO accredited, as well as having an impressive range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) approvals, including GE Aviation, Snecma, MTU, Honeywell, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Rolls-Royce (Germany, U.K., and U.S.), Pratt & Whitney, and Bell Helicopter.
Element Launches World-Leading Material Testing, PQT Facility Read More »
Source: Market Watch
The U.S. manufacturing sector doesn’t get any respect.
Read More: Opinion: U.S. manufacturing dead? Output has doubled in three decades
Opinion: U.S. Manufacturing Dead? Output has Doubled in Three Decades Read More »
Source: Today’s Motor Vehicles
“We developed our own hot-stamping process to be cost competitive,” says Elie Mordovanaki, general manager of operations and engineering for Merit Technologies Worldwide, GNS America’s hot-stamping division. “However, mechanical trimming is not optimal after the heat treating process takes place.”
Read More: Laser Cutting Supports Hot Stamping
In-House Heat Treatment Process Works Too Well Read More »